DRYING OF FOOD BY USING ALTERNAT

							DRYING OF FOOD BY USING ALTERNATE ENERGY
(DRYING OF DATES THROUGH SOLAR DEHYDRATOR)


KEY WORDS: Solar Dehydrator, Renewable Energy Technologies
           Dates Drying.


Keeping in view the ever-increasing demand of electricity and meager sources of third

world countries. Most of the drying process of food specially dates involves centuries

old techniques of drying, which yield low quality of food and consumes much more

time. The drying of food is done under the sun. During the drying process the quality

of food is Detroit by the interference of animals, weather and man.



Our organization has carried out research on the Solar Dehydrator (Dryer that works

on the solar Energy). We have dried dates and other spices, which yield better quality

in shorter time.
DRYING OF FOOD BY USING ALTERNATE ENERGY
(DRYING OF DATES THROUGH SOLAR DEHYDRATOR)
Mr. Asif Ali Shah *

KEY WORDS: Solar Dehydrator, Renewable Energy Technologies,
           Dates Drying, Pakistan Council of Scientific & Industrial
           Research (PCSIR).

ABSTRACT:


Drying of dates in Pakistan usually done under the open sun, which yields unhygienic
products, as the drying process face interference by the animals, birds and humans.
Furthermore the drying process also faces natural calamities such as storms and
rains. PCSIR Laboratories Hyderabad (Pakistan) has dried the dates through Solar
Dehydrator to improve the quality of dates drying.

INTRODUCTION:


Back ground of my department:


Pakistan Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (PCSIR) Laboratories, Hyderabad
working under the Ministry of Science & Technology is rapidly emerging as one of the
premier organization in the region, which is providing the quality services of test /
analysis. Previously it was working under the title of Solar Energy Research Center
(SERC), which was established in the year 1985. The SERC started working on
research and development in the field of renewable energy technologies. Keeping in
view the increasing demand of various test/ analysis services the SERC has been
upgraded in the year 2002 and renamed as PCSIR Laboratories Hyderabad.

Back ground of the project:

The Province of Sindh is rich in raw agriculture resource. These resources have a vast
potential of industrialization. The general public has no exposure and access to




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acquisition of industrial technologies thereby badly affects them financially as they
could not receive the value of their production. In addition to that 30 to 40 % of their


total production also spoiled due to non availability of proper processing/Drying
techniques which ultimately cause a sever loss to them.

Major reasons for this low level of returns to the producer are:

(a) Large distance of consumer markets from the sites of production.
(b) Perishable nature of the produce.
(c) Low level of technical skills in the rural communities.
(d) Lack of technological opportunities/exposure for value-addition to raw produce.
(e) Non-existence of technical support opportunities.

As PCSIR is the premier R & D organization having vast experience and facilities for
carrying out research specially aimed at value-addition to raw resource of the country
has carried out research on Solar Dehydrator for dates drying.

IMPORTANCE OF DATES:

       Date plant is considered as one of the oldest known species of plant. The date
is today a food of preference for its delicious taste and nutrition values. Every day
scientists are finding its new properties and has come to use it as medicine and food
as well. Similarly the Almighty Allah has also shown its importance, more than 20
times in Qurranic verses. In other religions, dates have importance such as the
occasion of Christmas and Devali.

Modern days scientists say that one grain of date and a glass of milk are so
nutritionally rich that it meets persons daily nutrition requirements. The date contains
more than (10) vital element of the body such as oxytoxin that increases mothers’ milk
level. Dates also contain a special form of sugar (fruit sugar fruticose) that gives the
body high-energy intake without increasing the level of sugar, which results in various
diseases.




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DATES & PAKISTAN:

Pakistan is considered as one of the largest dates growing region of the world and
largest dates exporter after India and UAE. Pakistan produces 11% share of the total
global production of the dates.

          Production                      5-7 lacs tones per annum.
          Area of cultivation             70-75 thousands hectors

          Export                          US$ 25 millions annually

          Import                          US$ 05 millions annually


AREAS OF CULTIVATION:

Due to its soil and seasons, Pakistan is an ideal place for the cultivation of dates.
Through out the Pakistan the date plant is cultivated the details for the same is given
under.
 Province          Locations                          Types
 Sindh             Sukkur, Khairpurmirs               Aseel,Karbala,Fasli & Khipro

 Punjab            D.G.Khan, Bahawalpur, Jhang,       Muzafati, Begum Jangi,Kehraba
                   Multan                             & Jan Swore.
 Balouchistan      Makran                             Rabai

 N.W.F.P           Murdan                             Dhakki & Gulshan



AREA OF STUDY:

It is the blessing of Allah that the province of Sindh is blessed with such important
food, as Khairpur is considered as one of the largest growing area of Pakistan. To
study the performance of our designed / fabricated solar devices we have purchased
a dates garden and conducted research work at District Khairpur’.




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METHODS & MATERIALS:

Traditional Dates Drying Processing

Most of traditional dates drying process involve mechanical work. A large quantity of
dates being damaged by centuries old techniques of drying in open atmosphere under
the sun, which is unsafe and unhygienic technique of drying as it face animal and
weather interference. Thus these centuries old traditional drying techniques are

i. time consuming ii. Yields low quality products.
PCSIR Laboratories Hyderabad is working hard to
solve these problems.


Solar Dehydrator


Dehydrator is a device that works on the solar
energy. The Solar Dehydrator is basically a drier
which dry the food items trough solar energy.



CONSTRUCTION OF SOLAR DEHYDRATOR

Solar Dehydrator is simple in design, which traps the sun radiation inside it. It contains
an exhaust (Chimney), An Air inlet and racks mounted in stair case style. The
                                                                        Dehydrator        is
                                                                        made     up       of
                                                                        glass and iron.




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GENERAL CHARACTERISTIC OF DATES DRYING SOLAR DEHYDRATOR


The inside temp. of solar dehydrator is double than the ambient temperature.


COMPARISON BETWEEN TRADITIONAL DRYING AND DRYING THROUGH
SOLAR DEHYDRATOR

Our experiments for dates drying are much success the same is recognized by the
local dates growers and farmer. The dates dried through solar dehydrator have many
advantages over the traditional drying but few are under:



          Properties             Traditional drying         Solar Dehydrator


         Time Factor                 05-06 days                02-03 days
            Quality                     Low                       High

          Wastages                      High                      Low
             Test                    Less Sweet               High Sweet

             Color                  Light Brown         Dark Goldish Brown




UPGRADATION OF TRADITIONAL SOLAR DEHYDRATOR
(TEMPERATURE CONTROL)


PCSIR has design a Solar dehydrator having control over the inside temp.
This controlled technique ensures better quality of the dried product and is effective
for drying of roses, onions and other spices. The solar dehydrator has been equipped
with Thermostat along with fan derived ventilation system to elevate the undesirable
heat to maintain it at required temperature. The device have the capability to work
both on AC/DC.




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RECOGNITION:


The solar dehydrators as developed by PCSIR Labs. Hyderabad have been used by
Pakistan leading spices drying company i-e M/s National Food Pakistan for chili and
other spices drying. They have dried the chilies through solar dehydrator to achieve
the European Quality of drying. In this respect they have awarded us the an
appreciation certificate and also mentioned the name of PCSIR on the dried spices
packs


RESULTS:


   The device took almost 1/3rd time (i-e 2-3 days) for drying the dates as compared
   to traditional drying system.

   The dates, which are dried through the Solar Dehydrators, are hygienic and
   require no additional efforts such as cleaning and oiling. on dates, as obtained
   through traditional open drying.

   The experiments of drying the dates through Solar Dehydrators were a big
   success due to its time saving, quality product and lesser wastage.



CONCLUSIONS & SUGGESTIONS:



   PCSIR Labs. Hyderabad requires funding to extend its services to local
   community.

   Govt. should develop dates processing zones, which contain all the facilities of
   dates drying including the labor colonies.




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